The author of Britain’s Greek Islands, Peter Prineas OAM, will present an online talk on the prominence of Ionian islanders among Australia’s early Greek settlers at 7.30pm, this evening (Monday, 4 July).
Entitled Wild Colonial Greeks, Mr Prineas’ talk on Zoom and YouTube, which is presented by the Ithacan Historical Society, will focus on the half century when the Greeks from the Ionian Islands and Kythera fell under the British protectorate of the United States of the Ionian Islands which meant that while they were not British subjects they could engage with the British, learn their language and ways to find full employment on British merchant vessels.
The Ionians made full use of this and sailor from Corfu, George Manuel, came to Australia as early as 1823. The pursuit of British policy by the Ionian government is also reflected in the seven Greeks convicted of piracy by a British naval court who were transported to NSW in 1829
More Ionians came when gold was discovered in Australia in 1850 and by the end of the colonial era Ithacans and Kytherians came to dominated the Greek communities in Melbourne and Sydney.
To attend the lecture live online and participated in the discussion after go before the lecture at 7.30pm to Zoom: (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83865571976) – no password required; or YouTube https://youtu.be/vTEqZ2tL4DI.
